The Denver Broncos announced on Apr. 24 that they have selected defensive tackle Tyler Onyedim with the 66th overall pick during Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft, after trading back from their original position at number 62.
The decision highlights the team’s continued focus on strengthening its roster along the line of scrimmage, a strategy that has been emphasized over recent seasons. The move is significant as finding skilled defensive tackles in free agency is often challenging.
Head Coach Sean Payton said Onyedim was among a small group of players targeted for this pick and cited his athleticism and performance at a difficult-to-fill position as key factors. “I think going through this process, it was really the athleticism and playing a position that it’s always hard to find: defensive tackles,” Payton said. “His strike, his shed. But it was the athlete, the make-up. Those were the traits.”
General Manager George Paton pointed to Onyedim’s college career as evidence of his potential impact, noting strong performances during three seasons at Iowa State and improved statistics in his final year at Texas A&M with career highs in sacks (2.5) and tackles for loss (8.5) in 2025.
Payton also discussed how new additions must fit into both team culture and roster needs: “When we’re taking a player in that spot, we discuss vision all the time,” he said. “They’re going to come in, earn their place… Broncos’ vision, Year 1. It was positive.” He further stressed character as an important factor: “As you begin to procure talent into a roster that we have, into a culture that we have, [character is] very important,” Payton said.
Looking ahead to Day 3 of the draft where Denver holds seven picks including two early fourth-round selections (108th and 111th), Paton indicated there are more opportunities to address critical needs on the team.
Payton concluded by underlining how valuable such players are: “When you look at our roster… It’s harder to find those defensive linemen and offensive linemen. When the window of free agency begins, they’re valued. They’re hard [to find].”
